Education tied to better cancer outcomes

EMORY (US) — The first large study in the United States to examine mortality rates of patients with mouth and throat cancers by educational levels find the greatest decreases among those with at least 12 years of education.

Amy Chen, professor of otolaryngology–head & neck cancer at Emory University, and colleagues examined death rates of patients with oral cavity (mouth) and pharyngeal (throat) cancer in 26 states between 1993-2007 and compared the level of education among those patients.

“Mortality rates among patients with major types of cancer, including oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer, have decreased in the United States since the early 190’s due to decreases in risk factors and improved detection and treatment,” according to the study that was published in Archives of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery.“The extent to which this varies by educational attainment has not been previously studied.”

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Data showed that from 1993 to 2007, overall mortality rates for patients with oral cavity and pharynx cancer decreased among black and white men and women regardless of race or ethnicity; however, mortality rates among white men have stabilized since 1999.

Mortality rates decreased significantly among men and women with more than 12 years of education, whereas rates increased among white men with less than 12 years of education.

The researchers also looked at mortality rates for patients with cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx that were related to HPV. Those patients with cancers that were not associated with HPV had significant decreases in mortality.

Mortality rates for cancer related to HPV decreased only among black men with at least 12 years of education but increased among white men, except for those with more than 12 years of education.

Tthe overall difference in mortality trends may reflect the changing prevalence of smoking and sexual behaviors among populations of different educational attainment, the authors conclude.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society collaborated on the work.